Fostering Innovation

Recently I read the latest issue of the User Experience Magazine: Volume 7, Issue 2, 2008
Online, you can access the User Experience Magazine if you are member of the Usability Professional Association:

On page three, there is a special note which states that
Dr. Ben Shneiderman, University of Maryland,
was being honored for his 60th birthday with a special issue of the
International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.


I worked with Ben while I was a graduate student and member of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab. There's a great quote:

"We begin by choosing excellent and pleasant people.
Then the Maryland Way is to foster innovation through seven sparks:

1. Choose a good driving problem
2. Become immersed in related work
3. Clarify short-term and long-term goals
4. Balance individual and group interests
5. Work hard
6. Communicate with internal and external stakeholders
7. Get past failures. Celebrate success!"

I wholeheartedly agree with these seven tenets.